Day 9: Saturday July 30

A day in Petersburg - tried to update blog, but the noise etc. in the bar just got too much!

 

A strange, interesting town, even the pavements have a diferent design on each corner, good people,

but I do not want to memorialise fish unlike this sculptor, as the smell from the cannery & all the fishing vessels has turned me right off fish on top of all that I ate on board!

Was not only able to leave my bags for the day, but also had the use of my cabin despite the fairly short turn-around for the crew. They were all very tolerant of my being around until the evening.

Johnny took me in a taxi to the ferry which unfortunately turned out to be very late coming in.

Once on board though, I made a fuss & asked for a cabin change, as having paid extra money for an outside cabin, I was not prepared to put up with one that looked out on to a bulkhead or whatever the nautical term is! Glad I did, as I got one on the port side, much the best view & the sunrise also.

Day 8: Friday July 29

Got underway early because of the thick fog, which suited me well! For once I could have my shower early without disturbing anyone! Also having to start to rethink my packing as it may be hot in Vancouver etc.

Southbound in Steven’s passage to Fredrick Sound; we went past Five Fingers Lighthouse.

 
There was no-one was there so we didn’t go ashore - but the humpbacks were! So we pushed on to Brothers Island to see sea lions, some of whom were so vocal tha they could be heard above the ship’s engine!

Started to make up some time, when orchas were spotted - breaching!! (But my so called photos aren't worth putting up!)

Truly we’ve seen it all!!

So, we got in to Petersburg late in the afternoon.

We went for a bit of a hike - & got soaking wet - before dinner which was put on for us by some of the residents who want to keep the Norwegian culture alive. 8 kids put on a display of some “traditional” dances! We gave them lots of encouragement!!!!

When we got back to the ship, it was group photo time,

& a slideshow of some people’s photos that 2 of the crew put together. I was disappointed that they didn’t include MY bear!!

Here's the crew - Ken's photo is better than mine!!!!

So, this part of my adventure has come to end, & I will leave Alaska on Saturday night’s ferry. Hopefully I will have posted this during the day so that you will know I am still alive!!!!

Since it has taken me nearly 5 hours to get this far with the updates (this program is so frustrating) I MUST get up as it's 7.30 to get the ferry to Vancouver!

Therefore, to be continued!!!

Day 7: Thursday July 28

Went out early in the skiff again, hopefully worked out the video cam to take stills. Still no bears.

Left for the glacier soon after mid-day. And wow, what a glacier.

The big 'Mickey Mouse' cruise ship - truly it was labelled Disney - may have got there first,

BUT, we got up really close & personal to it within approx. 1/4 of a mile - it would have been dangerous to go any closer!

Could almost fit it into 1 frame!

The “little” calfings that excited us at first

became as nothing as the most enormous ice face sheered off into the sea, & we were so close that we really had to hang on as the waves hit us.

It must have been as big as a 20 storey building collapsing!My camera speed was not up to it, but I SAW & heard it!!

Neither the captain nor the crew had ever seen anything as big!

Meantime, the bergs & 'debris' make good perches

 & resting places

We were probably there at least 2 hours or more.

Day 6: Wednesday July 27

Got up early to photograph the stillness - it’s really the only time when there is any silence. (Even when told to be quiet it seems that most of these Americans have no idea of how to stop talking!) Alas, there was no trip to the shore to see if there was any wildlife around, but it didn’t look much like it anyway.

There were several hours “to kill” before high tide, so that we would be able to get across the bar in to Ford’s Terror. The captain was obviously concerned that people should not get bored, so we meandered slowly along the shoreline just in case any ‘critters’ put their heads up, but no luck! Stopped to circle 1 of the larger icebergs which had birds perching on it, their feet must have been extremely cold!

Cruised on down to Ford’s Terror - in the pouring rain - which of course was negotiated without incident. We stay inside for 24hours as the bar can only be crossed at high tide.

The most superb anchorage!

2 waterfalls, an eagle’s nest (that I never actually managed to see, tho’ I described where it was to others!) and the most wonderful sheer rock faces upon which you could very clearly see the striations of the ages.

Some of us went out in the skiff (also known as the DIB) & got up very close & personal with the big waterfall we had stopped at on the way in, but try as I might I was unable to see the eerie with baby eagle & my camera had temporarily given up the ghost - it had just got too wet, so no photos! What a place not ro have a camera. I couldn’t remember how to use the video camera! May have got something on it or my mobile, not sure yet.

Trying to post this what seems like weeks later, I find all my photos are muddled up, so will just have to make u wait for them!!!

This, perhaps, may give you a bit of an idea!

As it takes so long to upload photos will just give you a taste, whilst I try to get this up to date!

Day 5: Tuesday July 26

However, apparently Jeff has left without giving anyone the password for the internet, so U will just have to wait a while to catch up! I’ll probably be home b4 U do!!!!

Was up early, in case anyone wanted to take a taxi up to the Mendenhall Glacier - in the pouring rain - & beat the crowds from the huge cruise ships that were also in port. Finally got to go around 9ish. I was glad I did, but we didn’t get to get as close as we did on/at the Columbian Icefield, & I guess it wasn’t quite as impressive, but still wonderful.

There were many lovely icebergs in the lake below though.


The glacier has receded so much & so quickly that it’s really worrisome.

After this side trip, we joined a small group from the ship to visit the State Museum. It was very well set out & put all the displays in context.

We now have the new captain in charge, & are sailing towards Ford’s Terror.

Stopped en route to get a close up view of what was for some, their first ice berg! It was very blue & we circumnavigated it.

We had no sooner moved away (& in to dinner as well!) when it toppled over & turned turtle, & none of us saw it! The windows were so covered in rain that from the dining area it was impossible to photograph the ‘after’ picture.


Our anchorage in Sandford Cove from a distance looked like it couldn’t possibly be calm & peaceful for the night, but it was, but no bears in sight despite the likely looking beach.

(It's getting too noisy here in the bar, & taking forever to upload photos, so will have to hope I can find some wi-fi again soon!)

Day 4: Monday July 25

Gut has started playing up again - guess I must have an infection of some kind damn, damn damn!

Think we are meant to be going ashore to the community @ Tenakee Springs today.

First up, by chance, I found out they were putting out the skiff as there was A bear, so dashed to get life jacket - compulsory - & was in that boat quick smart this time! And yes there it was, & I got a short video too!

& as if to say "I've had enough of you guys watching me................!"

On return, decided that I will just have to take the Immodium so that I don’t miss out on everything & will also start eating again (carefully) since fasting isn’t helping. We’ll wait & see!

So, there was an expedition to the township of Tenakee Springs,

& also a Nature Trail in the temperate rain forest. I chose the latter.

It felt so good to be out walking, & it was lovely

                                           Thought this root looked a bit like a sleepy koala!!


Continued on to a suspension bridge, AND, wait for it, was just about to take a photo looking upstream, when  I heard a splash into the water, AND wait for it ..........

Yup, there it was MY bear!!!!

was probably the only one to get a picture of it through happenstance!! What a thrill! My trip is made!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*****************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are now steaming towards Juneau, & apparently we should have an internet connection then (we didn't!).

But the extraordinary day was not over then!

Suddenly, not just 1 humpback whale was seen, but 4 or 5, or was it 14 or 15 & they were bubblenet feeding!! This is when they co-operatively fish together, making bubbles that scare the fish, & they circle around them, blowing & beating the water, herding them in to an ever decreasing circle.

What an incredible sight (I was so excited that I completely missed some wonderful photo opportunities, but did get some). This has to be one of the most incredible sights, & not witnessed all that often.

They did it again & again!

Imagine being on those little whale watching boats! They couldn't get out of the way as of course they couldn't start their engines! But we had a ringside seat also! WOW!!!!

What a day!!!

We arrived in Juneau around 10pm, & will have a change of Captain as Jeff & his fiancee have family issues to deal with in Florida. We have a good deal of the day to explore the town etc.

Day 3: Sunday July 24

Having actually got some sleep, woke to rain.

Still have a pretty unhappy gut, so another day of fasting.

The real bummer was that I couldn’t go ashore & do the hike to the warm springs or even the lake, as the skiff would not return for 2 hours, & I couldn’t risk being away from the loo for that long.

 Johnny bringing the skiff back in to the ship

       & just passing by my cabin window.....!!

                                            

     

After we left Baranof Bay we cruised for about 6 hours but, not as “splashy” as going south, and I finally got to go up to the bridge - fascinating.

But now, I’m really p…ed off, as they did not make the announcement, that the skiff was going in to see bears over the loud speakers as everyone but me was at dinner! Those 1^st lucky ones to go saw 3 brown bears, but “scared them off” & by the time the rest of us got to go, they weren’t there. Apparently 1 did come back, but I didn’t see it.

                                             returning to the ship after a fruitless bear search!

Day 2: Saturday July 23

As my bunk is the wrong way was able to get it made up the other way which means my head is under a sort of shelf impossible to write this up!

Today I really had to fast - such a pity when good food is laid on & paid for already *sigh*!!

A sunny, hot day (got very burnt) & whilst breakfast etc. was happening I was out on deck at the bow just outside my cabin. [Got some Sprite - to go flat - & when my gut settled a bit some salted crackers.]

Would preferred to have just been left in peace, but of course that is not possible.

However, in the afternoon we came upon humpback whales, & altho’ I didn’t get much in the way of pictures, it was wonderful to watch these awesome creatures going about their lives.

It was a good thing that I had been with my sister so that I knew what passengers were talking about when pointing to “over there by the boo-ee” - not that I could see the bouy, but at least I understood what they were meaning!!!!

We spent a long time watching so didn’t get to where we were scheduled to go & instead went through to Kelp Bay so that those who wished to, could kayak while the weather was good, & anchored there for the night.

Alaska!

Am going to leave this exactly as I wrote it, & post it in days, as if it were current, but will try to get as many up whilst I have the opportunity (am sitting in a busy bar @ 10 AM in Petersburg! (It is in real time the 29th).

Day 1: Arrived in Sitka early afternoon on Friday 22^nd.

We had an hour or so to wander before a bus tour which took us to the Eagle rescue & Rehabilitation Centre - really well thought out & a very successful programme, although there are some birds that will never be able to be released to the wild, they play an educational role such as the bald eagle Sitka that came in to the talk with her handler.

Even the vets were having a hard job trying to work out what sort of bird this was & literally were looking it up in a book as we watched!

The museum,

& the Russian Orthodox Cathedral

were next up, both very interesting.

                                                              I liked this nice touch!!!

Then to the ship, which is about 100ft. long & - as long as one is not in a single cabin - well set out.

Still really unwell, but tried to be sociable by having dinner - not a good idea. Also, dinner was the time of sailing & I desperately wanted to be out on deck with my trusty camera, but missed out. Not sure how I will survive a boatload of Americans for 9 days!!! The only other non-American is the Russian pastry cook! Help!


There was the most glorious sunset, which I was able to photograph, but stayed out too long & got really cold, but couldn’t bear to leave it.

Very difficult to find any place to put things (1 peg & although there are 2 drawers not really enough room to open suitcase!) it’s a bit like the cabin on the train from Halifax. But hey, I'll be in the same bed for 8 nights!!!!!